Module 4

Question 1

Structure/code

Answer 1

What is stored in memory

Question 2

Limiting factors

Answer 2

Duration and capacity of memory

Question 3

Encoding

Answer 3

How does information enter memory

Question 4

Storage

Answer 4

How is information held in memory

Question 5

Retrieval

Answer 5

How is information taken out of memory

Question 6

Attkinson-Shiffrin Multi-store Model (1986)

Answer 6

Sensory input -> sensory memory -> short term memory -> long term memory
Attention moves info from sensory to STM
Rehearsal moves info from STM to LTM

Question 7

Sensory memory (A-S Model)

Answer 7

Structure: unprocessed sensory data
Storage: different for every sense (iconic = visual, echoic = sound, tactile = touch)
Process: attention
Limiting Factors: capacity of attention (echoic and tactile longer than iconic)

Question 8

Sperling sensory memory test

Answer 8

Flash grid of letters, ask for recall of all of them. Low performance. Repeated with audio cue for each line, performance improved with the cue; declined rapidly with time between sensation and cued retrieval. Proposed capacity is 9 items with very short duration

Question 9

Short Term Memory (A-S Model)

Answer 9

Structure: Processed sensory data
Storage: Auditory or visual
Limiting Factors: duration (20 seconds without rehearsal) and capacity (7 +/- 2 meaningful chunks)
Process: maintenance rehearsal

Question 10

Chunking

Answer 10

Grouping information into meaningful chunks to store more in short term memory

Question 11

Verbal STM

Answer 11

7 +/- 2 chunks, evidenced by digit span testing (can remember more digits if their names are smaller) and phonological similarity effect (worse memory for rhyming items)

Question 12

Visual STM

Answer 12

4 +/- 1 chunks, studied by Luck and Vogel using change detection tasks

Question 13

STM Binding problem

Answer 13

Most everyday tasks don’t fit within visual or verbal STM only

Question 14

Working Memory

Answer 14

Structure: verbal and visual and processor
Limiting factor: attentional resources
Allows us to store and manipulate information

Question 15

Baddeley Working Memory Model

Answer 15

Central executive controls the phonological loop and the Visio-spatial sketch pad; episodic buffer added to solve binding problem

Question 16

Central Executive

Answer 16

Processes/manipulates stored information, attentional control mechanism (diverts attention to those that need it); tested with change detection tasks. Regulates relevant and irrelevant information

Question 17

Phonological Loop

Answer 17

Storage: phonological
Process: articulatory rehearsal
Converts incoming info into verbal code (articulation suppression tasks)

Question 18

Articulatory suppression

Answer 18

By supplying another audio stimulus during the encoding process of sound, it blocks rehearsal in the phonological loop and reduces memory

Question 19

Operation span tests

Answer 19

Measure working memory; alternate solving math problems and saying words to see how many words are remembered while the memory system is occupied

Question 20

Episodic buffer

Answer 20

Holds bound information from the central executive, integrates information from multiple modalities into a cohesive memory

Question 21

Cowan’s Model of Working Memory

Answer 21

No separate storage systems, just one memory. Working memory is us focusing our attention on 3-4 things from LTM; assumes parallel activism

Question 22

Forgetting

Answer 22

Decay in retrieval ability of memories due to the passage of time or interference where new information displaces old information